Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025
An Immunohistopathologic Study to Profile the Folate Receptor Beta Macrophage and Vascular Immune Microenvironment in Giant Cell Arteritis
Published on: February 8, 2019
Giant cell arteritis: A case report and review of literature
Matthew A Crain1, Dhairya A Lakhani2, Lana Winkler2
1West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV.
Insights
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a serious vascular inflammation. Imaging studies like CT scans can help diagnose GCA early, potentially preventing severe complications such as aortic aneurysms and blindness.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Vascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in older adults.
- It involves granulomatous inflammation of arteries, posing risks of aortic aneurysms, rupture, dissection, and blindness.
- Early diagnosis and immunosuppressant treatment (e.g., corticosteroids) can mitigate severe morbidity.
Observation:
- Temporal artery biopsy, the gold standard for GCA diagnosis, is invasive and can be unreliable.
- Computerized tomography (CT) imaging offers a noninvasive alternative for identifying vasculitis.
- A case study highlights a 72-year-old male diagnosed with GCA via biopsy during aortic aneurysm surgery, with prior CT scans suggesting vasculitis.
Findings:
- CT imaging demonstrated findings suggestive of vasculitis prior to surgical diagnosis.
- The case underscores the utility of imaging in assessing GCA.
- Noninvasive imaging can aid in early GCA detection.
Implications:
- Utilizing imaging studies like CT can facilitate earlier diagnosis of GCA.
- Prompt diagnosis may reduce the incidence of debilitating and fatal vascular pathologies.
- Integrating advanced imaging into diagnostic protocols could improve patient outcomes in GCA management.
Abstract:
Giant cell arteritis, the most common form of vasculitis in the elderly, is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of arteries, which can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions including aortic aneurysms, ruptures, and dissections as well as blindness. Since GCA can be treated by immunosuppressant therapy, such as corticosteroids, early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the risk of serious disability and morbidity. While temporal artery biopsy is considered the gold standard to diagnosis giant cell arteritis, it is intrusive with inherent risks as well as unreliable due to tissue sampling. Imaging studies, such as computerized tomography, are nonintrusive and have been shown to identify vasculitis including giant cell arteritis. We present a case of a 72-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis by temporal artery biopsy during surgery for aortic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass graft. Computerized tomography imaging studies, prior to the surgery and biopsy, were suggestive of vasculitis. This case serves to emphasize the beneficial role of imaging studies to assess vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis, that can be done prior to the progressive development of more serious debilitating and potentially fatal pathology.
